Metal furniture



METAL FURNITURE Filed' Aprii 1o.r 1929 s sheets-sheet 1 INS/ENTOR v 04M J 1MM- ATTOREY Aug. 18, 1931. L, H MQRlN 1,819,616

METAL FURNITURE Filed April 10. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY l WMM

ATTOREY Aug. 18, 1931. L. H. MORIN METAL FURNITURE 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 10 lNvENToR y WMM- ATTONEY- l5 sheet metal parts without in any wise de- Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED- STATES vPATENT OFFICE IAOUIS H. MORIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T DOEHIER DIE-CASTING CO., A.

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METAL FURNITURE Application mea .9pm 1o, 1929. serial N0. 353,907.

My invention has particular reference to so-called knock down metall furniture, which may be readily assembled and disassembled and thus effect a considerable economy in space and consequent expense for shipping and storage. The invention has an especial utility in dressers, chill'oniers and like articles of furniture, although in some respects it is susceptible of more universal application.

An object of the invention is to reduce the cost of manufacture of articles of furnitureof the type referred to by reducing the numberland size of castings required in the structure and extending the use of stamped tracting from the strength and durability of the construction or the facility with which it may be assembled and disassembled nor from the appearance of the article. :Subsidiary objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

Embodiments of my invention require but four relatively small castings, one at each corner and serving as a solid attachment for the legs and the body of the article. Otherwise the structure maybe composed entirely of sheet or stock material.

I shall now describe one embodiment of my invention and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a dresser embodying my invention and having parts broken away to show the inner construction thereof;

Fi 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-'2 of F 1g. 1; -l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the upper rear portion of the dresser -as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the lower rear portion of the dresser as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the left side in Fig. 1 appearing at the top in Fig. 5; Y Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary` horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, with the upper portions fof Fig. 6 appearing at the left in Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is a vertical -section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, but showing the corresponding corner of the dresser at the front, which is broken away in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line l 10--10 of Fig. 2.

In order to illustrate my invention, I have shown it as embodied in a piece of metal furniture known as a dresser or chest of drawers. The article is designed to include a plurality of drawers aand may be surmounted by a finishing rail as indicated. The article consists of side panels having uprights formed on the side edges thereof, a rear panel connected to the rear uprights, top and bottom panels, appropriate reenforcing rods, `sheet metal leg members and a casting telescoping into the uprights and the .sheet metal leg members to unite the same, and also roviding means for uniting and supporting the panels. 4

Referring to the drawings, there is `provided side panels 1 having integral uprights 2 at `the side edges thereof. The panels 1 and uprights 2 constitute a single piece of sheet metal, the side edges being pressed or stamped so as to bend them into the hollow partially closed form shown which is conducive to rigidity and strength and simulatesthe appearance of appreciable thickness. The upper edge of each of the side panels, between the uprights, is bent inwardly at a rightangle to form a flange 3 upon which the top is adapted to rest. At the formed on the side edges of the side panels,

1 are adapted to telescope over a connecting casting 5 which is provided with an external shoulder forming enlargement 6 the u per side of which forms a shoulder which a uts 'againstthe lower edge of the upright. The

shape as shown. Around the edge of the cup there is an outer flange 9 which abuts against the lower edge .of the leg 7 to limit the inward movement of this cup. Within the cup-shape reenforcing member 8, a caster holder 10 frictionally engages the inner surface thereof. The caster holder is somewhati cup-shape having a reduced end portion which is adapted to resiliently engage the stem of a caster. An outer reversely turned flange 11 at the edge of the caster holder 10 engages the flange 9 formed on thev reenforcing member 8.

A rear panel 12 which consists of a single piece of sheet metal is bent at the side edges thereof to form flanges 13 by means of which it is secured to the uprights 2 by bolts 14. The lower edge of the panel 12 is reversely bent, similar to the side panels 1, to form a similar channel, the free edge of which is bent at a right angle similar to the side panels to form a flange 15.

The top member consists of a. deadening filler member 16, such as a heavy sheet of asbestos, sandwiched between two pieces of sheet metal 17 and 18. At the front and sides the overhanging edge portions 17 a of the upper sheet metal member 17 are bent edge of the sheet metal member 17 is bent downwardly at a right angle to forni a flange 22 (Figs. 2 and 3) which overlaps and is secured to the rear panel 12. The sheet metal member 21 secured to the lower member 18 is bent at the-front edge thereof to form the hook-like portion by means of which it engages the overhanging edge of the upper member 17, and is then bent around a reenforcing bar or rod 23 the ends of the bar being bent inwardly at a right angle to form flanges 24 by means of which the bar is secured to the uprights 2. A reenforcing bar or rod 25, preferably formed from an angle iron, stiffens the upper edge of the rear panel and the rear edge of the top. The vertical flange of the angle iron 25 is made longer than the horizontal flange by providing projections at each of its ends, the projections being bent inwardly at right angles to the rear panel to form flanges 26 which are secured to the rear uprights 2. f

lA bottom panel 27 is provided to complete the frame of the dresser. The front and rear edges of the bottom panel are bent around rectangular reenforcing bars or rods 28 and 29 which are bent at the ends to form flanges 28a and 29a which are secured to the casting 5. That portion 30 of the bottom panel, cut away to accommodate the uprights 2, is bent downwardly and secured to the casting 5. The rear reenforcing rod 29, covered by the rear edge portion of the bottom panel, is received in the channel formed on the lower edge of the rear panel 12 and frictionally engages the sides thereof to form a thrust joint therewith. The side edges of the bottom panel are bent to form tubular tongues 31 which are received within and frictionally engage the sides of the channels formed on the lower edge of the side panels to form a thrust point therewith and a reenforcement therefor. ,The flanges 4 and 15, formed by the free edges of the sides of the channels formed on the lower edge of the rear and side panels are secured to the bottom panel 12 by bolts 32.

Guide rails 33 upon which drawers are adapted to slide are secured to the side panels 1. The guide rails are constructed from a single piece of sheet metal which is bent to form a chanel. The edges of the sides of the channel are bent outwardly at a right angle, parallel to the plane of the web 33a, to form flanges 34 which are secured to the side panel 1. The web 33a of each guide rail is extended beyond the sides by providing projections at both ends, each projection being bent inwardly and then outwardly to form a flange 35 which presses against the uprights 2 and resists compressive forces acting on the guide rails. Suitable drawers 36, having channels in the sides thereof to receive the guide rails 33,. may be used with the dresser.

A finishing rail 37, or a mirror, if desired, may be secured to the reenforcing angle iron 25 as shown.

By the construction illustrated and above particularly described, it will be apparent tha-t an article of furniture is produced principally from stamped sheet metal parts and which is adapted to be produced at a minimum of cost.

It will be noted that all of the several sheet metal members or `parts which come together or into proximity at each of the four corners of the dresser at the bottom are`f1rmly and rigidl connected together andthe 'oint reenforce throu h the Intermediary o the strong and rigidy unyielding filler piece 5, which may conveniently be a die-casting. Thus, and as above described, the front frame bar or reenforcin rod 28fhas each of its turned-over ends olted directly to the respective front connecting pieces 5 just below the bottom panel 27, while the rear frame bar or reenforcmg rod 29 is similarly bolted at its turned-over ends directly to the respectiverear connecting pieces 5, as shown in Firg's. 2, 4 and 10. Y

he rear panel 12 and the bottom panel 27 are both indirectly firmly connected to each of the four connecting pieces 5 through the intermediary of the rear frame bar 29, together with the bolts 32, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, while at the front the bot- @tom panel -27 is similarly `connected to the as shown in Figgel at the right and bottom.`

front framebar28, by means of which it is connected to the two front connecting pieces 5. The bottom anel 27 is also directly connected to eac of the four liller pieces 5 by means of its down-turned corner portions 30 and the screws shown in the drawings" (Figs. 2, 4 and 9). Each of the side panels 1, together with the front and rear hollow corner uprights 2 formed thereon, have their attachment to the corner con-y nectlng pieces 5 through the intermediary of the bottom panel 27, by means of their channels which receive the tubular tongues 31 on the bottom panel 27, and also by means of the side panel flanges/l and the bolts 32,

. Thus, it will seen .that each of the four lower cornersof the dresser, all of the sheet metal panels which there converge are 'connected together and connected to the intermediary connecting piece or corner piece 5, by means of a few bolts and screws, providing for ready assembly and disassembly. In lthe latter -or disassembled condition, it will be obvious that then the strong reenforcing connecting piece 5 will be free and disconnected from all of the other frame parts of the dresser, including the above noted panels and reenforcing bars. In this separated and disconnected condition, the connecting piece 5 of course carries with it the upwardly flaring or downwardly tapering tubular sheet metal le member 7, which, a'sindicated in the drawings, maybe circular in cross section. Accordingly, each of the legs 7, together with the cast connecting piece 5 at the upper end thereof-and the sheet metal cu'p members 8 and 10 at the lower end thereof, constitutes a separable detachable part or section from the .other vframe members and parts which go to make up the dresser.

It is obvious that the strong and rugged cast filler piece or connecting member 5 is not readily susceptible to breakage or damage. However, should the sheet metal leg member 7 be damaged, it may easily be independently renewed or replaced relatively to the connecting member 5, either in the attached or detached condition of the latter, relatively to the panels and other frame parts of the dresser. As indicated in the drawings Fig. 9), it will be noted that the upwardly arm upper end portion of the sheet metal tubu ar le member 7 has a snug lit over the downwarbly tapering lower end portion of the cast filler member 5, u on which it will normally be retained by rictional wedging engagement, which permits the leg member tol be forcibly withdrawn from its telescopic relation with the iller member 5, over which it has been forced in making the assembly.

The shoulder formed by the lower side of the surrounding enlargement 6 on the `connecting piece 5 provides a stop for the upper en'd or-annular edge of the leg member 7 which prevents the latter being split by the wedging action therein of the connecting member 5, either in effecting assembly or by reason ofthe wei ht of the dresser, which thus is borne upon t e upper end or edge of the leg 7. The shoulder formed by the upper side of this enlargement 6 not only acilitates assembly, but also supports the weight of the assembled sectional parts of the dresser, so that thereby there is no weight nor shearing action on the above noted bolts and screws by which these frame parts are detachably connected to the con-I to the uprightA 2 and llkewise of the leg l member 7 relatively to the connecting piece 5, and'therefore of this leg 7 relatively to the corner upright 2, so that thereby a dresser construction results which is rigid and strong, while at' the same time it is light in weight aswell as inexpensive to manufacture andconvenient tol assemble or disassemble.

It is obvious`that various modifications may be made in the construction shown in the drawings and above particularly de scribed, within the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. .v l

I claim: F 1. In an article of metal furniture, the

combination of a hollow sheet metal frame upright, a tubular sheet metal leg member in alignment with the said upright below the lower end ofthe latter, a strong unyielding frame part forming a filler piece telescoping with a snug fit upwardly into the hollow upright to be confined thereby against lateral movement and telescoping downwardly with a snug lit into the tubular leg member a suiicient telescopic distance in each instance to give longitudinal rigidity of the leg member and upright relatively to each other, the said filler piece intermediate of its length being surrounded by an enlargement thereof providing upper and lower supporting shoulders between the lower end of the said ho'llow 'sheet metal upright and the upper end of the 'said tubular sheet metal leg member and other frame parts of the said article secured together and to the said upright and also secured to the upper end portion of the Said liller piece which thereby forms a strong intermediary connection between all of the interconnected frame parts including the said other frame parts and the hollow upright and the leg member.

2. In a frame construction for an article of metal furniture, the combination of hollow sheet metal corner uprights, a sheet metal side panel connecting together asaid front and rear corner upright at'the respective sides y ofthe said article, a strong unyielding filler piece telescoping with a snug fit against lateral movement into the lower end portion of each of the said hollow uprights respectively, and a bottom panel secured to each of the said filler pieces and to the side panels so that thereby a strong and light reinforced lower corner joint construction is provided.

3. In an article of metal furniture, the com- -bination of a hollow sheet metal frame upright, a strong and rigid filler piece telescoping upwardly with a snug lit into the hollow upright to be confined thereby against lateral movement and having telescopic relation of suflicient length to prevent longitudinal relative angular movement, frame parts of the said article secured to the said filler piece and securing the latter in place iftithe said hollow sheet metal upright, and `iai-*tubular sheet metal leg memberhaving an upwardly flaring upper end portion, the said filler piece having a downwardly tapering extension to have a snug wedging telescoping itwithin the upper flaring end portion of the leg member of sufficient length to provide longitudinal rigidity between the said filler piece and leg member and providing for the removal of the leg member from the filler piece, the said filler piece intermediate of its length being surrounded by an enlargement thereof providing upper and lower supporting shoulders between the lower end of the said hollow sheet metal upright and the upper end of the said sheet metal tubular leg member.

4. In an article of metal furniture, the combination of a pair of sheet metal side panels each of which is provided respectively at its front and rear edges with a hollow sheet metal corner upright, a strong unyielding filler piece telescoping upwardly with a snug lit into the lower end portion of each of the respective hollow uprights so as to be held therein against relative lateral or longitudinal angular movement, front and rear lower frame bars rigidly connected at their ends to thefront and rear filler pieces respectively, eachof the said filler pieces having a downward extension below the said frame bars and sheet metal corner uprights, and a tuhllar sheet metal leg member telescoping upwardly over the said extension and removably held in place thereby.

5. In an article of furniture, the combination of a rigid frame part provided with -a conically tapering downward extension terminating upwardly in an outer enlargement providing a lower supporting shoulder, and a leg member the upper end portion of which forms an upwardly flaring conical socket removably telescopin with a snug frictional wedging t over t e said conical extension with the upper end of .the leg member abutting against the said shoulder thereby providing a detachable connection of the leg member with the said frame part.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature. e LOUIS I-I.l MORIN. 

